I bought a speed spool off ebay the other day, couldn't pass up the price. The listing said "sluggish" which I think deterred a lot of buyers. Anyways I scored it for a heck of a deal, figuring it was probably either gummed up or just needed bearings replaced. I got it today and he was right, it was sluggish. I had a few minutes over lunch so I took it apart to see what was wrong. Took the side plate off and oil dripped out of the bearing... took the rest of the reel apart and it looked like someone dumped a half a bottle of quantum hotsauce in it through the spool shaft hole. Dried everything out and lubed it properly and it runs just like new. Moral.. LESS IS MORE. One drop of oil and a small amount of grease on moving parts is all you need.. 

Nice score...and true words.  Wish I had a place to work on reels, and more of a desire to do so.  It is satisfying to do your own work, but I am extremely leery about taking a reel apart.  Oh well.  It keeps places like DVT in business. 

Thats usally how i score free or almost free round abus..pawl messed up or grease on bearings

18 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Nice score...and true words.  Wish I had a place to work on reels, and more of a desire to do so.  It is satisfying to do your own work, but I am extremely leery about taking a reel apart.  Oh well.  It keeps places like DVT in business. 

Yeah Buddy!!

I thought I was the only one  ?

 

 

 

 

Mike

3 hours ago, Mike L said:

Yeah Buddy!!

I thought I was the only one  ?

 

 

 

 

Mike

Nope.  It is a shame too.  Basic maintenance shouldn't be beyond our capabilities.  I just have never been one to tear into things.  I could try taking a reel apart in my computer room in the basement, but with 2 grandsons often spending time there I would worry about having parts disappear.

Good find! It pays to learn the details when servicing your reels. They have such tight tolerances that you can easily hinder their performance. I'd buy them all day long like that.

"Less is more" are words to live by in a lot of ways. 

 

Nothing wrong with with not wanting open a reel. An automotive oil change is much simpler and quicker yet what % of people do their own? Don't know exactly but it's small. 

I've always been a cheap azz I'll tear into one in a second

Next time your a your local flea market or garage sale grab a beat up reel for dirt cheap. Take it home and tear it apart and learn how it works. Nothing to lose just possibly gain by learning and having enough confidence in the future to do simple maintenance like clean and lube.